harm

injure, harm, hurt, damage, impair, mar mean to affect injuriously. injure implies the inflicting of anything detrimental to one's looks, comfort, health, or success.

• • badly injured in an accident

harm often stresses the inflicting of pain, suffering, or loss.

• • careful not to harm the animals

hurt implies inflicting a wound to the body or to the feelings.

• • hurt by their callous remarks

damage suggests injury that lowers value or impairs usefulness.

• • a table damaged in shipping

impair suggests a making less complete or efficient by deterioration or diminution.

• • years of smoking had impaired his health

mar applies to injury that spoils perfection (as of a surface) or causes disfigurement.

• • the text is marred by many typos

harm, injury, and damage mean an act that causes loss or pain. harm can be used of anything that causes suffering or loss.

• • The frost did great harm to the crops.

injury is likely to be used of something that has as a result the loss of health or success.

• • She suffered an injury to the eyes.

damage stresses the idea of loss (as of value or fitness).

• • The fire caused much damage to the furniture.